Engine Lubricant Pump Stator Ring Stabilization Against Leakage and Noise
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Positive displacement pumps, such as vane pumps, suffer from hydraulic leakages and noise due to instability of the rotor ring, leading to reduced fluid flow and disturbing ticking noise, especially under hot engine conditions, caused by manufacturing tolerances and clearance between components.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating elastic elements like helical springs or elastomeric bodies into the control ring, which are pressed against the bottom wall of the pump cavity by the lid, to stabilize the control ring's position and prevent axial movements and rotations, thereby eliminating noise and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manufacturing tolerances are relaxed to reduce production costs, then ease of manufacture is improved, but control ring stability deteriorates leading to increased hydraulic leakages and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces elastic elements (springs or elastomeric bodies) as intermediary components between the control ring and the pump cavity bottom wall. These elastic elements act as mediators that compensate for manufacturing tolerances and clearances, maintaining stable contact and positioning of the control ring without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances. This allows relaxed manufacturing while preserving reliability.
2Loss of substance
If clearance between control ring and cavity bottom wall is reduced to improve sealing, then hydraulic leakage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic elements are designed to automatically adjust and maintain optimal contact between the control ring and the cavity bottom wall. The self-adjusting nature of the elastic elements eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms or precise pre-setting of clearances, reducing device complexity while effectively minimizing fluid leakage through maintained sealing contact.
3Reliability
If elastic elements are added to stabilize control ring position, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the contact interface by introducing elastic elements that deform under load. This parameter change from rigid to elastic contact allows the system to absorb variations and maintain stability without complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms. The elastic deformation of the elements provides the necessary compliance and stability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If control ring position is stabilized to reduce noise, then noise level is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic elements serve as intermediary components that decouple the control ring position stability from manufacturing precision requirements. By introducing this compliant intermediary layer, the system can accommodate manufacturing variations while maintaining stable control ring positioning, thereby reducing noise without demanding high manufacturing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces fluid leakage and noise without compromising pump efficiency or reliability, and can be easily applied to various pump types and models, including existing designs, through simple modifications.
Implementation Method 1
the incorporation of elastic elements, such as helical springs or elastomeric bodies, into the control ring which are pressed by the lid against the bottom wall of the pump cavity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A pump for the lubricant of an internal combustion engine comprises a pump body (2) defining a cavity (3) opening on one face (2A) of the pump body (2) and a lid (4) secured to said face (2A) for closing the cavity (3). Within this cavity (3) there is rotatably mounted a rotor (8) surrounded by a stator ring (9). The stator ring (9) is positioned against a bottom wall (3A) of the cavity (3) and is held in this position by the lid (4). Between the lid (4) and the stator ring (9) there are interposed one or more elastic elements (11) which are compression loaded as a result of the mounting of the lid (4) onto the pump body (2), so as to press the stator ring (9) against the bottom wall (3A) of the cavity (3) with an elastic load sufficient for preventing axial movements, as well as rotations around a diametrical axis, of said stator ring (9) during operation of the pump.